We got there at 2 pm just at the beginning of the funeral. The Unity Center was full to bursting with friends and family, so a screen and a video link was set up in Fellowship Hall for everyone who wouldn't fit into the Unity Center, and that was almost completely full by 2:45 pm.
The jazz combo that has backed their choir for the last four years: Seth on bass, Ben on drums and Walter on the keys - were playing as everyone came in. Then we heard a recording of Suzanne & Kingsley singing "One of a Kind Mankind" as the family most everyone dressed in shades of purple - came in.
There were flowers, flowers everywhere, a beautifully painted portrait of Kingsley was on top of the piano, and two beautiful photo portraits of Suzanne and Kingsley on easels were on either side of the casket. On the right, a black and white portrait of Suzanne and Kingsley on their wedding day in 1969; on the left, a promotional color portrait of the two of them taken probably 20 years later(3)- you can only tell it was done later because Suzanne had braces on her teeth and because of the hairstyles - because they didn't age at all!
First a welcome from the M.C., followed by a brief explanation of Baha'i burial rites by Harold Edwards, then several selections and prayers were read (or chanted) from both Baha'i & Christian Scriptures. Letters from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Bermuda, the U.S. Southern Regional Baha'i Council and also the Black Men's Gathering were read.
An older gentleman from Bermuda who had known Kingsley since he was a small boy played and sang "Nature Boy": "...The greatest thing you'll ever learn - is just to love and be loved in return."
Kingsley's brother spoke about him, saying he knew him as "Junior" and that Kingsley was always a remarkable storyteller. When they were kids, they shared a bedroom and back then their father worked two jobs. At night, when the two boys were supposed to be falling asleep, Kingsley would tell stories based upon the happenings of the day or people that they knew, stories so funny that they were forever getting in trouble for disturbing their father's much needed rest. He also told of a few years later, Kingsley and some friends formed a band and their drummer just couldn't cut it. His brother was still in high school, but one day while the band was rehearsing, Kingsley told his brother to sit in and fired the other drummer and thus "the Sprites" were born.
Sean Anderson sang the last song that he and Kingsley ever did together, Ray Charles' "My Romance".
David Guillory sang, "I Can Only Imagine":
"...Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for You, Lord, or in awe of You be still?
Will I stand in Your presence or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing, 'Ya Baha'u'llah'u'Abha?
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine..."
Cliff Owens-Leech got up and told about he and Wendy lived with the Swans years ago in Rhode Island and how the Swans were always getting ready for a gig. Kingsley would get dressed and ready, load up all the equipment and Suzanne still wouldn't be ready. No matter what was going on in the living room - frequently there were meetings or friends over- Kingsley would open up the pocket doors, stick his head through like Jack Nicholson in "The Shining" and shout, "Max - Let's GO!" Another man spoke about his 35 year friendship with Kingsley and Suzanne and both of their families. He said he hesitated to call himself Kingsley's best friend because he knew there were so many many people there at the funeral who also felt like Kingsley was their best friend. Also, he said that Kingsley not only didn't have a single enemy, but that there wasn't a single person he knew of who didn't like Kingsley and consider him a friend.
A recording of Kingsley speaking about the Faith and then singing "The Remover of Difficulties" was played, followed by Kingsley's version of "What a Wonderful World" a la Louis Armstrong. At that point, Suzanne took the podium and told us that Kingsley was singing that song until his very last breath, teaching the Faith to everyone all the time. She said that she was rebel in the family and made a joke about how "Swan" would remind her to say her obligatory prayer. She told of how, after his leg was amputated, he made a puppet for his stump - called it "Stumpy" - so the children wouldn't be frightened.
She said to everyone, "You've got KNOW about this Faith. This Baha'i Faith..." and proceeded to tell us all about some of the amazing support they received from Baha'is all over the world, sometimes from people they barely knew.
She looked at us all with those amazing eyes of hers and challenged us, "So what are you gonna do? What are you gonna DO?" It was clear to every Baha'i there that she was challenging us to go and teach the Faith as never before.
Kingsley's mother spoke of her love for all of the people who loved Kingsley and said she wanted to hug each and every one of us. She said "I love you" to all of us several times.
Lastly, the choir the New World Unity Ensemble- got up and sang Kingsley's arrangement of "Blessed is the Spot." If you haven't heard it, it isn't slow and ethereal at all - it's more of an up tempo jazz funk that makes you want to move!
"...And His praise glorified GLORIFIED!
And His praise glorified GLORIFIED!
And His praise glorified GLORIFIED!
And His praise glorified GLORIFIED!
Blessed is the SPOT!"
We tried to follow several cars to the graveside but we got sidetracked and so had to turn around and go back to the Unity Center. I was told by a friend who did get to the cemetery that the Baha'i Prayer for the Dead was said to the accompaniment of drumming, and that it was "miraculous". Thats a pretty long prayer and she said that this time, after it was over, she was asking herself, "Is that it?"
Back at Fellowship Hall, there was lots of food and much visiting going on. Not too long after Suzanne and the family got their food and sat down, there was a bit of a commotion over at one of the family tables. Suzanne then announced to everyone that her own sister had just signed her Baha'i declaration card! Ive heard of a lot of amazing signings, but never before have I heard of a declaration at a funeral!
Someone at my table immediately commented, "Kingsley didn't waste any time getting to work, did he?"
(1) Date of the funeral - 9/11/2005
(2) my name is Helen Keniston Oney
my email address is helenko@peoplepc.com
(3) the picture on this webpage is a B&W version of the color portrait described
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